Professor Amberley stared malevolently. The images made her stomach turn.

Those perfect New Zealanders, plastic-free for ten years and now celebrating sanctuary

status with their pristine emerald pastures, azure glacial rivers, and abundant natural

forests. Cursing the surround-vision, which made you feel like you were there, she shut

the Holographison down. The incessant birdsong was more than she could tolerate.

The disgruntled professor stared across at her sheep. They’d eaten through the

day’s plastic and were now pushing hard against the electric fence, not feeling the zaps

any more. They wanted out. And in that moment, Amberley decided they could have it.

Why carry on? Sanctuary Aotearoa had already stolen Australia’s thunder. She stormed

down to the lab paddock, opened the gate, and watched, scowling, as her experiment

headed towards the beach.

The sheep wasted no time. They needed to get away from the lab, where they were

forced to eat plastic every day. Every shred of instinct they had left told them to get

back to soil. The sheep plunged into the ocean and started swimming. Years of ingesting

plastic – combined with genetic modifi cation – had caused them to store the plastic in

their bodies. Consequently, they could fl oat. They were also very strong and never wore

out. So they just kept swimming. And swimming. And swimming.

* * * * *

S.O.S.BY GEMMA LOVEWELL

ADVENTURE SCH

OOL

WINNER OF THE

ELSIE LOCKE WRITING PRIZE

2018

46

Sanctuary Aotearoa’s Atmospheric Guard was high above the Tasman, patrolling the

borders for signs of drift ing plastic sources. The image alert started fl ashing madly,

so the guard on-beamed the satellite pictures to Tamati in Eco Patrol.

Tamati’s microchip buzzed, sending a tickle down his arm. There was a border

breach, involving plastic! KP, the off ice kākāpō, squawked indignantly.

“Sorry, mate,” Tamati soothed. “I’ve got to go – you’re in charge again.”

Tamati guided the Alpha chase vehicle expertly through the fl oating off ices of the

off shore city, then raced past the aquatic villages. Homes here had hydropower self-

suff iciency stations, and they were transportable. Plus they had earthquake-resistant

variable tension anchors, so their appeal was huge. Every year, more green space

appeared as people relocated to the fl oating accommodation, freeing up the mainland

for organic farming and native species regeneration. Already, this land looked healthy,

with crops and animals thriving in the pest- and plastic-free environment. The nation’s

pride in this achievement was now part of the culture. No one wanted to go back to the

ignorance of previous generations.

47

As he approached the target co-ordinates, Tamati was astonished to see a herd

of sheep swimming towards the coast. “Plastic sheep?” he said to himself. “No, wait,

modifi ed sheep!” Somehow, they’d ended up plasticised and were looking for a pure

environment to detox in. Knowing he couldn’t risk these animals reaching Aotearoa’s

shores, Tamati needed a solution – and quick.

“The oil rig!” he thought excitedly. The preservation society had left biodomes there

when they’d fi nished analysing the historic structure. Tamati turned his Alpha. Within

minutes, he’d located a biodome, disconnected it from the oil rig, and was heading back.

Hoping desperately that the plan would work, he manoeuvred the biodome between

sheep and shore. With relief, the sheep leapt aboard and immediately started devouring

the fresh grass.

But now what? Tamati furrowed his brow. They couldn’t have plastic in New Zealand,

but he couldn’t send the sheep back to lab life, either. Then he realised he was staring

at the answer. New Zealand could gift the entire biodome to Australia! The sheep could

live out their days regenerating. Sanctuary Aotearoa would be safe, the sheep saved, and

Australia could show the world the importance of putting things right. Everybody wins!

illustrations by Daron Parton

S.O.S. by Gemma Lovewell

Text copyright © Crown 2018

Illustrations by Daron Parton copyright © Crown 2018

For copyright information about how you can use this material, go to: www.tki.org.nz/Copyright-in-Schools/Terms-of-use

Published 2018 by the Ministry of Education,PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.www.education.govt.nz

All rights reserved.Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

ISBN 978 1 77669 476 1 (online)

Publishing Services: Li� Education E TūEditor: Susan Paris Designer: Liz Tui MorrisLiteracy Consultant: Melanie WinthropConsulting Editors: Hōne Apanui and Emeli Sione Curriculum learning areas English

Social Sciences

Reading year level N/A

Keywords Elsie Locke Writing Prize, environment, fantasy, futuristic, genetics, humour, plastic, student writing, writing

SCHOOL JOURNAL LEVEL 4 NOVEMBER 2018

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Go to www.schooljournal.tki.org.nzfor PDFs of all the texts in this issue of the School Journal as well as teacher support material (TSM) for the following:

TSM

How to Be Normal �

Rise Up: The Story of the Dawn Raids and the Polynesian Panthers �

Much Ado �

Professor Amberley stared malevolently. The images made her stomach turn.

status with their pristine emerald pastures, azure glacial rivers, and abundant natural

there, she shut

the Holographision down. The incessant birdsong was more than she could tolerate.

any more. They wanted out. And in that moment, Amberley decided they could have it.

headed towards the beach.

The sheep wasted no time. They needed to get away from the lab, where they were

ft

* * * * *

ft

ff ā ā ō

ff

ff

ff

variable tension anchors, so their appeal was huge. Every year, more green space

ignorance of previous generations.

S.O.S.BY GEMMA LOVEWELL

ADVENTURE SCH

OOL

WINNER OF THE

ELSIE LOCKE WRITING PRIZE

2018

46 47